Thursday, December 29, 2011

You
heard it hear first! SANGUMA band will have a special tribute concert
after the funeral of founding member, TONY SUBAM next week.

This was
announced at an emotional reunion of surviving band members BURUKA TAU,
SEBASTIAN MIYONI, THOMAS KOMBOI, RAYMOND HAKENA and AARON MURRAY which
I've just returned from.

SANGUMA
REUNION: Surviving Sanguma band members (from left) BURUKA TAU,
SEBASTIAN MIYONI, THOMAS KOMBOI, RAYMOND HAKENA and AARON MURRAY at
today's emotional reunion following the death of founder TONY SUBAM.
This was at their old stomping grounds, the National Arts School (now
University of PNG Arts Strand)

Memories of the glory days of the 70s and 80s
came pouring out at today's gathering.

For someone whose music rocked Papua New Guinea and
the world, the late Tony Soru Subam, one of the founders of the legendary
Sanguma band in 1977, was a quite person, who kept to himself and avoided the
limelight.

Tony
Subam performing in Port Moresby during the 1970s

I found this out myself a couple of years ago, when
I tried to do a story on him after doing one on his band mate, Buruka Tau,
however, Subam said the time was not yet right.

Sadly, I will never get to do this one-on-one
interview as on Christmas Day, while most of us were celebrating, Subam passed
away after a short illness.

Tony
Subam performing a solo during a trip to Japan

His father was from Yabob village in Madang province
while his mother was from Kairiru Island in East Sepik.

I will never forget that night at Theatre Lae in
1980 when, as part as of the South Pacific Festival of Arts, Subam and Sanguma
took PNG’s second city by storm.

He is survived by his wife Juta and five children.

On Wednesday evening, while I was trying to piece
together this story at University of PNG’s Creative Arts Strand, where Subam was
head of music, Juta, workmates and Sanguma band mate Thomas Komboi agreed that
he was not one who liked publicity.

Ironically, it was at this very same place exactly
34 years ago, in 1977, that Sanguma was formed.

Komboi, in fact, suggested that we wait until other
Sanguma members like Aaron Murray, Raymond Hakena, Sebastian Miyoni, Leonard
Taligatus, Buruka Tau and Paul Yabo got together so that I could do a proper
interview.

Sanguma
band performing one of its early concerts at the UPNG Amphitheatre in the
1970s. From left are Aaron Murray, Sebastian Miyoni, Tony Subam, Apa Saun and
Thomas Komboi

“He was a very nice person,” Juta reflected.

“He was very quiet, both within the house and
outside.

“He only spoke when he had to.

“Otherwise, he was in his own little world, writing
his thoughts.

“His life was devoted to music.

‘He got along very well with his kids and was very
protective of them at the same time.”

Sanguma,
arguably PNG’s greatest ever band, developed its own avant-garde style of
music.

With forward-thinking PNG musicians like Subam,
Miyoni, Komboi, Yabo, Saun, Hakena, Taligatus and later Ben Hakalits, PNG music
went through an inimitable epoch in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

“I think Sanguma even today is very unique in
itself,” Tau told me in a 2004 interview.

“Sanguma was
way ahead of its time.

“Sanguma inspired a lot of people internationally,
even though we were not a commercial band.”

“Up until today, it’s one of the most unique bands that
have come out not only in PNG, but internationally.”

Sanguma, a band formed by students of the National
Arts School (now Creative Arts Strand), eventually disbanded because they simply
weren’t making money.

“It was basically survival,” Tau reveals.

“It came to a point where we had to survive.

“The music was way ahead of its time.

“We did our last gig at the Expo in Brisbane
(1988).

“Sanguma reunited in 1992 for a concert with Yothu
Yindi.”

Komboi told me that Sanguma started in 1977 after a
creative workshop at the National Arts School.

“That year was that first year that the music school
opened,” he recalls.

“Tony Subam, Paul Yabo and I came from Kerevat
National High School, Tony finishing in 1975, while Paul and I finished in
1976.”

Subam, Yabo, Komboi and Miyoni were pioneer members
of Sanguma together with Josepha Tamelagai, Robinson Guta, Hillary Laris, late
Bill Stevens, Jesse James Pongap and Peter Piruke.

One Friday afternoon in November 1977, on a National
Broadcasting Commission programme ‘University On Air, some of the band members,
including Subam, were interviewed and played live some of their music, which is
now online for anyone interested in hearing about the beginning of Sanguma.

Listening to Subam’s voice from 34 years ago was
very emotional for me, more so, when he led Sanguma in his first-ever hit from
his beloved Madang, ‘Naiyo, naiyo’.

“From different cultures we may come, speaking in
different tongues, yet deep within, our souls touch each other through the
language of music,” he is quoted on the clip.

“We communicate and talk in a common language with
one talk. Throughout Melanesia.”

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

A FATHER and his son were treated in hospital for injuries they received
when they were attacked by armed thugs at a public park, The National reports.
Simon Walg and son John Bereu were with family members at the Varirata
National Park, Sogeri, outside Port Moresby, on Saturday for a Christmas
family outing when they were attacked.
Walg, Bereu and his wife Jenny, their sons and family friend Regina Augustine were taken by surprise.
Walg and Bereu were attacked with bush knives while Jenny was threatened with a factory-made gun.
Sons Joesen and Kapul watched helplessly as their dad bled from the knife wound.
They were rushed to the Port Moresby Ge­neral Hospital but because there
were no doctors on duty, they had to be taken to Paradise Hospital.
Jenny managed to scare the thugs off at the park after she ignored the
gun pointed at her, ran to her husband’s taxi and grabbed his bush
knife.
“I did not care if they had to shoot me because when I saw my husband
and Walg bleeding badly, I managed to get away and did not care if they
will shoot me,’’ she said.
“I went straight to my husband’s taxi, grabbed the bush knife and came
back running at them. They did not shoot me but instead ran into the
nearby forest.”
She believed the thugs only wanted to harm them and not steal anything.
“We had our backs turned at the lookout point of the park to see the
city when the first one came hit my husband on the neck before running
straight at Walg and hit him too,” she said.
She said Walg tried to ward off the knife and prevented more injuries to himself.
She blamed the incident on the National Environment and Conservation
Department which for some reason had reduced security officers at the
park.
She said the park should be well guarded so that families could use it.
“At the moment, the park is not safe and the security is not guaranteed,” she said.
“Similar incidents happened before and it will be worse if the NEC does
not look into this matter. We could see lives being lost out there.”
No comments could be obtained from the police and the department yesterday.

POLICE in Enga have arrested a man for allegedly killing a three-month pregnant woman and eating part of her body, The National reports.
Police said the gruesome murder took place in Mona­kam village in the Kompiam-Ambum electorate last Tuesday.
Police believe the man had been high on marijuana when he allegedly cannibalised the woman.
Police said they had never come across such an incident before.
They described it as a first of its kind in the province – one which was
known more for tribal fight and not cannibalistic practices.
Provincial police commander Martin Lakari said last Friday the man had been detained at the Wabag police cell.
Lakari said the man drank the woman’s blood and then started cutting her
throat and ate it before locals were alerted and stopped the man.
He said locals then alerted police who arrested the man.
Lakari said to arrest such a person was not that easy because he had tasted human blood.
Police had to tie him with a rope before taking him to the police station.
Lakari described it as “unbelievable” and inhuman.
He said the man allegedly smoked marijuana and when his throat turned
dry, he attacked the woman with a knife, killing her instantly.
Lakari said as the woman lay dead on the ground the man licked her blood and started eating her throat.
Lakari said these were actions of drug addicts and mentally ill people.
He said such actions had painted a bad name for the province.
Lakari said the woman had been expecting her first child and therefore it was a double murder because she was pregnant.
Lakari warned people, especially women whose husbands were known for smoking marijuana, to avoid them when they were alone.
He warned mothers not to let their children stay home with their fathers because such an incident could happen.
He said women and children must protect themselves and make sure to avoid such people who were mentally ill

AN
American Baptist missionary was attacked by a group of prisoners after row over
land ensued between the Correctional Service (CS)and the Baptist mission,The National reports.

The land is at the Pangia station in Southern
Highlands.

Missionary
Chad Wells said a group of 20 prisoners armed with knives had been cutting
grass in the mission compound while two unarmed warders watched over them.
Wells had asked the warders why they were cutting grass in the mission’s
compound.
They replied that the land had been surveyed for a rural prison improvement
project initiated by local MP and Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.
Wells told the warders that the mission held the title over the land. He tried
to stop the prisoners from cutting trees but they attacked him with their
knives, injuring his right back and wrist.
He said the warders did nothing to stop the prisoners and instead threatened to
kill him and remove him.
They claimed that the CIS held the title to the land since the 1970s.
He said when the warders were asked to produce the papers on the land
ownership, they ignored him.
Another missionary and a doctor who were at the scene said Wells was unarmed –
and he was punched thrice on his chest when he intervened.
Nixon Kanema, the officer in charge of land matters in Ialibu-Pangia district,
said the CS should have consulted the district administration.
He said the Baptist mission had the relevant land documents and urged CIS authorities to develop the existing prison area and look
for other alternative land.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

As 2011 approaches its end and 2012 lies only days
away, we are proud that National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI) continues
to make very good progress in accomplishing its strategic objective and
impacting positively on the lives of our people.

Basic
food processing training conducted by NARI for women in the Huon district in
partnership with Bris Kanda, a local NGO

This was echoed by NARI director general, Dr
Raghunath Ghodake, in his Christmas message to staff, partners and
stakeholders, acknowledging that this would not have been possible without
their tireless efforts.

Among these achievements was the launching of the
NARI-EU Agricultural Research for Development project on generation and adaptation
of agricultural technologies to mitigate climate change imposed risks to food
security in smallholder farming communities in western pacific countries of Solomon
Islands, Vanuatu and PNG.

Participants
from Solomon Islands at the popular communications workshop held recently under
the capacity building project of NAI-EU Science and Technology Programme

This mega project is in addition to the three projects for capacity building which are being implemented
by the Institute under the EU ACP Science and Technology Programme.

These projects will benefit agricultural research
and development organisations in the Western Pacific Countries.

VIPs
led by NARI director general, Dr Raghunath Ghodake and Morobe Governor, Luther
Wenge, making their way to officiate the Agricultural Innovations Show staged
at Bubia, outside Lae in May

Dr Ghodake noted that many areas of these projects
had been successfully implemented during 2011. In May, NARI celebrated
its 14th anniversary, coinciding with the staging of the 5th
Agricultural Innovations Show.

NARI director general, Dr Raghunath Ghodake and Head of the Delegation of the European Union to
PNG, Dr Martin Dihm with shell money presented by Solomon Island
representatives at the lauching of the EU ARD project at the Holiday Inn early
this year

During this event, the institute officially
released three improved technologies to the farming community.

These included two
blight-resistant potato varieties, two cool-tolerant rice varieties for the
highlands and the broiler feeding system developed using locally-available
resources,
bringing the number of NARI-released technologies to 27.

Anton Mais (right) of NARI explaining to visitors to the agriculture
innovation show on the use of a simple cooling system being promoted by NARI

Dr Ghodake also noted the institute’s continued
achievements in many excellent outcomes such as quality publications, staging
of and participating in important public events, working with local organisations
and rural communities on technology transfer-related activities, increased
participation in post-graduate training, direct funding from AusAID, and wider
acclaim from stakeholders and civic society for information dissemination
through the print and electronic media,
field days, public shows, training sessions and demonstrations.

It was noted that during year, NARI staff participated in a wide
range of workshops, conferences, training programmes and technical
consultations both locally and internationally.

They also produced an array
of conference or workshop papers, corporate documents, technical bulletins and
scientific journal publications.

NARI has made good progress on the refocused institute planning and
alignment of the organisational structure and management systems so as to
contribute effectively to improving the outputs and farm level outcomes and
impacts.

The institute has developed its Strategy and Results Framework (a
corporate document), a key milestone and the basis for further focusing and
planning at the programme and projects levels.

“We will continue to develop further the Institute and build on relevant
capacities to create a congenial environment for AR4D and to further improve in
service delivery efforts for our primary clients, the smallholder farmers of
PNG, while at the same time continue to deliver on currently implemented
projects and on‐going
activities”, Dr Ghodake added.

“We are
pleased with the confirmation in March by the Parliamentary Committee on Public
Accounts of our prudence in financial management and accountability.

“We will
continue to undertake the institute’s financial management within the
established financial guidelines and procedures.

“ NARI
will continue to be pro-active in providing good corporate governance from our
very able council and equally good leadership at the executive management
level”.

Dr Ghodake expressed that these achievements could
not have been possible without the dedication and commitment of the PNG Government,
AusAID, EU, stakeholders, donors and
NARI staff from all programmes and at all levels, stating the institute highly
appreciated and treasured their commitments and contributions.

While wishing all staff, partners and stakeholders
an enjoyable festive season on behalf of the NARI council and management, he called
for their continued and proactive contributions in 2012 and the years to come
for the benefit of the farming community who depend partly or wholly on
agriculture for their livelihoods.

Well know musician and founder of Sanguma, Soru (Tony) Subam, died on Christmas Day after a short illness.
Widely considered to
be a founder of Papua New Guinea's contemporary music scene, Subam co-formed Sanguma in
1977, melding the PNG cultural traditions with western instrumentation.
Headlining the South Pacific Arts Festival, they were the first PNG band to tour
internationally.
Subam has been an inspiration to a whole generation of PNG
musicians.

Last
night, till the early hours of this morning, I read MORRIS WEST'S final
novel before his death, THE LAST CONFESSION, which is about GIORDANO
BRUNO, Dominican monk and rationalist philosopher, who was burnt at the
stake in Rome's Campo dei Flori on Feb 17, 1600.

Bruno's beliefs and
writings were considered heretical by the Catholic Church.

Investigated
and tortured by the Holy Office of the Inquisition, and incarcerated for
seven years in Rome's worst prison, Bruno was given the opportunity to
recant but chose instead to die for his beliefs.

Monday, December 26, 2011

SMALLHOLDER
agriculture and family farming is the core contributor to agricultural
production in most developing countries, including Papua New Guinea,
contributing to achieving food and nutritional security.

A resource centre established by NARI in the Rabaraba
area of Milne Bay province in partnership with PNG Sustainable Development and
the National Disaster Centre. This centre is being used to multiply and
distribute improved crop and livestock varieties in the area under a food
security project. Such models can be tested further in our efforts to improve
rural advisory and extension services in PNG – Picture by JAMES ERNEST

To help
these smallholders improve their farming practices; a coalition of public,
private and civil society actors at national, regional and international levels
is needed to revitalise and strengthen agricultural extension and advisory
systems.

This was the challenge put forward by more
than 400 participants who attended the international extension conference on Innovations
in extension and advisory services: Linking knowledge to policy and action for
food and livelihoods.

The
conference. held in Nairobi, Kenya, from
November 15-18, 2011, was aimed at
taking stock of current policies, thinking and practice, successes and failures
of ongoing and past reforms in extension and advisory services and develop a
coalition to address the needs of smallholder farmers, in particular women and
youth, in a sustainable and cost effective manner. The conference covered four
cross-cutting themes of Policy, Capacity Development, Tools and Approaches and
Learning Networks.

Farmers, extension professionals, policy-makers, researchers,
academics, representatives of the private sector and the media from over 70
countries participated at this event.

The
Pacific region was well represented with representatives from a number of key
organisations to voice the concerns of Pacific Island countries and
territories.

Rural
advisory servicesare increasingly
recognised by many rural development actors as an essential vehicle to ensure
that research, development of farmer organisations, improved inputs, and other
elements of rural development support actually meet farmers’ and other rural
actors’ needs and demands.

Despite
past advances in agricultural innovations through improved crops and farming
systems, much of the developing world still faces challenges in food and
nutrition security, non-sustainable agricultural practices, poor access to
markets, and a falling contribution of agriculture to national GDP.

Rural
farming communities have not really benefited from advances in agricultural
technology. The diminishing national extension and advisory services reflect
reduced government investment in agriculture.

Now, the global community, responding to this
situation, is revisiting extension and advisory services as the critical link
in the agriculture value chain, where smallholder farmers are key actors of
agriculture.

Director of
CTA, Michael Hailu in his opening remarks said that the conference theme,
Linking knowledge to policy and action for food and livelihoods, was very
relevant and provided a new perspective to extension and advisory services.

He said 75%
of the poor in developing countries lived in rural areas and the majority of
them depended on agriculture for their livelihoods.

He pointed
to smallholder farmers as the primary group producing food, yet over 30 million
people in Sub-Saharan Africa face food security issues.

Any effort
to fight poverty must start with agriculture.

Hailu pointed out that the event was no
ordinary conference, where experts came to talk to each other and everyone else
politely listening.

He challenged participants to take the
opportunity provided to create a coalition of different interest committed to
improving the welfare and productivity of the world’s smallholder farmers.Extension and advisory services, he
explained, had a key role to play in confronting the many challenges farmers
face, from climate change to low productivity and rising food prices.

He expressed the hope that the
conference would identify practices and policies to improve the delivery and
effectiveness of extension and advisory services.

Hailu
advocated increasing government funding to agriculture, his call supported by
many other speakers.

We have and
will continue to make this call in PNG.

We believe
the state has a duty to its smallholder farmers and should invest in
agriculture, which supports the livelihood of over 80% of our population.

Ensuring
food and nutritional security for a growing population is a challenge.

The world
population estimated to reach to 9 billion by 2050 and with additional challenges
posed by climate change and scare resources such as land, water and energy will
require not only technical innovations but policy action and investment.

The
diminished role of extension and advisory services is a hindrance to future
agricultural and rural development and hence there is an urgent need for
redesigning and revitalising their role in reshaping the global food system.

There is
also need for coordination of development actors to articulate and advocate for
investments in agricultural extension and advisory services and to ensure that
they remain priorities on the national, regional and global development agenda.

In PNG, responsible agencies should act on
Ted Sitapai’s recommendation to formulate a new agriculture extension policy,
which promotes pluralism, market-oriented, and participatory and methods that
are appropriate for empowering farmers and increasing their social capital,
particularly amongst women farmers in PNG.

Currently our extension system is
fragmented, making it difficult for managing and resourcing the extension
services.

The meeting
noted the need to enhance the use of information and communication
technologies, both old and new, and engage the media in expanding the reach and
impact of extension and advisory services.

The
international conference provided a unique forum for world experts to share
experiences, success stories and challenges and recommend future measures and
policy reforms that will make extension and advisory services more relevant and
responsive to the needs of millions of smallholder farmers so that they are
better equipped to feed a growing world population.

We hope
some of these recommendations will be acted upon in PNG for the benefit of our
smallholder farmers.

province, was in Adelaide, South
Australia, for the graduation of his daughter, Rebecca.

Rebecca
graduated from the University College London (UCL) – School of Energy &
Resources in Adelaide for the award of a Master of Science – Energy &
Resources, Policy & Practices on that day.

“I
was a recipient of the Santos Scholarship which enabled me to partake in this
study experience,” she tells me.

“There
are 10 Santos scholarship awarded globally annually and I am a proud recipient
of such scholarship.

Father and daughter...Wamel and Rebecca Kiage
enjoying Adelaide, South Australia

“UCL
is ranked as one of the top 10 universities in the world.

“This
is also the second time for dad to be overseas to witness my graduation as he
was with me in Melbourne for three months in 2006, and witnessed my graduation
at Monash University, where I was conferred the award Masters of Public Policy
& Management.”

Rebecca,
who was born in Lae on Aug 12, 1978, did her primary schooling at East Taraka
PNG Bible Church, Lae International Primary School and Omili Primary School;
Grades 7-10 at Lae High School; and Grades 11-12 at Bugandi Secondary School
before going on to the University of Technology, where she graduated with a
Bachelors Degree in Business Economics in 2000.

She
was employed by the Department of Agriculture and Livestock as a policy officer
until her resignation in January 2010 when she was awarded the Santos
Scholarship.

Kiage
arrived for the his daughter’s graduation at Adelaide airport after staying
overnight in Brisbane and was picked by Ken Tscharke, son of pioneer Lutheran
missionaries Claire and Len Tscharke, good parents of his and guardians of his
daughter, and rushed straight to the graduation ceremony which started at 9am.

“All
the while,” Rebecca admits, “I did not think he was going to make it but ‘God
is good all the time' and the good Lord made sure all was possible.

“I
had tears in my eyes when I saw him ushered to his seat.

“It
was a day of celebration and I was happy both families - the Tscharkes and him
- were present.

“Dad
is a person who truly believes in education and how it can make a difference.

“That
is why he is so vocal for education, not only for us his immediate children but
to all our extended family members and the community in East Taraka, Lae.

“Dad
and mum always go out of their way to be the surrogate parents for most drop
outs and ensure they are placed back to the formal education system.

“Their
house in East Taraka, Lae, is always a full house with kids from all provinces
and all walks of life.

“Dad
is also a popular figure with all the teachers at Gantom primary school, Taraka
Primary School and Bumayong Lutheran High school and the Lutheran academics at
Unitech and is respected by them.”

Kiage,
who was so happy to meet up again with the Tscharkes, was a very proud man.

“I
was so proud because I always rate education very highly,” he said.

“She
(Rebecca) was the dux at Bugandi Secondary School (before going on to
University of Technology, and then joining DAL after graduation).

“I
can see that all my prayers are being answered.”

Kiage
did Grades 4-6 at Asaroka in Eastern Highlands where he first met the
Tscharkes, founders of the famous Asaroka Lutheran High School, before
returning to Kundiawa, and then doing his secondary schooling at Goroka High
School.

After
that, he joined the then Department of Primary Industry before becoming a
veteran Highlands Highway truck driver, clocking up 36 years under his belt.

“I
worked with DPI for two years,” Kiage remembers.

“I
worked at Kerowagi in Chimbu and Magarima in Southern Highlands.

“I
then resigned and took up a job as a Highlands Highway truck driver for 36
years.

“I
was with Pagini, Farmset, Cartrans, Hagen Hauliers and many others.

“I
have four children and nine grandchildren.”

He
urges all parents to bring up their children in a God-fearing Christian
environment in which education is a high priority.

Achievements

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